Carlos Velez is a fashion, beauty, and celebrity photographer specializing in fashion advertising. His unique perspective is manifested through upscale imagery defined by attention to detail and sophistication, with a priority on showcasing each individual’s essence by establishing a genuine connection with every person who steps in front of his lens. A self-taught artist, Carlos has spent years mastering his craft and refining his aesthetic, ultimately becoming a trailblazer in the industry.
Prior to entering the world of pageantry, his extensive experience in fashion advertising and collaborations with the world’s top modeling agencies shaped his creative vision, allowing him to bring a fresh and exciting edge to pageant photography. His work in fashion and beauty has been widely featured in national advertising campaigns, major television networks, NYFW billboards, and international fashion publications, solidifying his reputation as a leading creative force behind the camera.
Carlos is a passionate supporter and advocate of pageantry, recognizing the powerful and positive impact the industry has on its participants, local communities, and the global stage. He serves as the Official Crown Photographer of Miss America, an official photographer for Miss USA and Miss Teen USA, and a National Sponsor for USA National Miss and Miss Earth USA. His clients regularly include international contestants from prestigious pageants such as Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss International, and Miss Grand International.
Carlos has photographed the two most recent Miss Universe winners (2024 and 2025), as well as numerous Miss USA titleholders from 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2017, and 2016, along with Miss Teen USA contestants from 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2019, and 2015. He also works extensively with competitors at the state and national levels across systems including USA National Miss, Miss Earth USA, The IAM Pageant Powerhouse, Miss High School America Pageant, Mrs. America, and more. The refinement of Carlos’ imagery, combined with his rare ability to capture beauty from the inside out, results in photographs that are not only memorable but truly unforgettable. His work has contributed to countless Miss Photogenic wins across multiple pageant platforms.
The true magic behind his photography lies not only in technical skill, but in his genuine gift for connecting with people—bringing out the best in each subject and leaving them not only with stunning images, but with renewed confidence to embrace their inner and outer beauty both on set and throughout life. Based in Orlando, Florida, Carlos travels throughout the United States year-round
BOOKING - booking.carlosvelez@gmail.com
NAME: Erica Rose Carnegie
AGE: 23
Scholastic/Career Ambitions:
2024 – Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Management, with a minor in Sports Management.
Currently enrolled in a dual Master’s Degree program. Upon completion of her dual master’s program, Erica intends to work in market research or strategy within sports or for an agency. In the future, she is considering going back to school to complete her PhD and researching the effects of the legalization of sports betting and parasocial relationship effects on athletes.
Current Employment/Schooling:
Erica works for an NBA team in Marketing Strategy while simultaneously working on two Master’s Degrees (MBA and Master’s in Sport Business) with an expected graduation of April 2026.
Community Service Involvement:
Erica is the Founder of The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation’s Youth Ambassador Program, encouraging rare disease and stroke survivors to share their testimonies and spread awareness in their communities.
In addition to this, she is the Community Relations Chair for UCF’s DeVos Sport Business Program. Throughout her term thus far, she has organized the program’s participation in over 30 community events.
Interesting and Fun Facts about me:
Interesting facts about Erica are that she has a rare genetic disorder (Arteriovenous Malformation, AVM), enjoys thrifting, has read 35 books this year, loves playing pickleball and piano, likes working out, and doing pilates.
Accolades:
The Jacksonville Image Award, The Shyne Award – Overcoming Obstacles, The Invisalign Changemaker Award, JAX PAL Changemaker Award, and Presidential Volunteer Service Award. International, National, State, and Local Talent Award winner – Piano.
Leadership roles – President/VP/Officer of various campus organizations. Academic scholarships – undergraduate. Academic scholarships – graduate school.
One of six people featured in the 2024 Global Rare Disease print and video campaign in over 200 languages. Featured in numerous magazines, newspaper articles, and TV interviews.
ERICA’S RARE DISORDER SURVIVOR STORY!
After ten years of suffering from severe illness, including chronic nausea, debilitating migraines, stroke-like symptoms, severe breathing issues, and random vision loss, in 2018 Erica was finally correctly diagnosed as having Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM). This is a rare genetic disorder that affects less than 1% of the population, so it is usually misdiagnosed.
After she recovered from surgery, she did research on AVMs and found The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation. After speaking with them, Erica was told they did not have a support system in place for young survivors, only adult survivors. She offered to start the Youth Ambassador Program so young survivors like her would have a peer group to support each other and talk about their struggles. In March 2019, Erica became the first Youth
Ambassador with this program, and six years later, there is a nationwide network of survivors and family members who advocate for AVM and aneurysm research, raise funds, and spread awareness.
Since then, Erica has given numerous interviews with TV, newspapers, and magazines, gotten proclamations issued every year during AVM Awareness Month (October) and during Rare Disease Awareness Month (February). Erica also serves as a mentor to the new Youth Ambassadors and helps coordinate activities with them, including making sure that they apply for proclamations and teaching them how to utilize the media to help spread awareness. Erica and the Youth Ambassadors also support young survivors who are going in for surgery or those who are recovering from surgery. In addition, their families are also provided with support.
Even with all this happening, Erica kept studying really hard and remained in the top percentage of her high school class. She received numerous academic awards, including the Principal’s Scholar Academic Award all four years of high school and the Principal’s Scholar Leadership Award. She was also a member of the National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, Math Honor Society, and served as a peer tutor for Spanish and Math. In May 2020, at 17 years old, she graduated magna cum laude with her high school diploma and also completed her Associate’s Degree at St. Johns River State College. Since then, she has completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and in April 2026 she will graduate with both a Master’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Sports Business Management.
Facebook: The Aneurysm and AVM Foundation
Audrey Eckert of Nebraska!
Crowns Magazine is proudly congratulating Audrey Eckert of Nebraska, newly crowned Miss USA 2025!
Audrey captured hearts across the nation with her confidence, intelligence, and authentic representation of modern pageantry. Representing Nebraska with poise and purpose, she now steps into her reign ready to redefine what it means to wear the Miss USA crown.
Stay tuned — a full Crowns Magazine feature on Audrey Eckert’s inspiring journey and her plans for the year ahead will be published in our November issue.
Photo courtesy of the Miss USA Organization.
.jpg)